I had the pleasure to dine at Penumbra on a Thursday evening. We were celebrating a graduation and…read morethe staff were very welcoming when we arrived. I was visiting from out of town and was not familiar with the parking around the area. I asked one of the staff members and immediately they reassured me that the side street would raking was totally fine to park just so long as it wasn't the front of the building where you have to pay. The food started with a complementary potato soup which was flavorful and lovely. We got a round of drinks and one of our party didn't care for her drink and it was replaced no question. We had the flat iron steak, the chicken, and the salmon and each entree was wonderful. The proteins were all very tender and juicy. I was also very pleased with the salad that came first which was lightly dressed and very seasonal. We finished our dining experience with a slice of cheesecake. It was a nice cap to the end of a wonderful meal. I would recommend this restaurant for any occasion - I would love to come back and try some of the other items on their menu.

**Hidden gem!!!**…read more Penumbra is SUPER sexy and low-key elite. This is one of those spots that will make you look like a total restaurant pro if you take someone there or recommend it. The ambiance is intimate, romantic, and just feels exclusive without trying too hard. I took my girl there for her birthday and she absolutely loved it -- which is always the real test. We had the ribeye and the Rotini Bianco, and both were excellent. The ribeye was cooked perfectly, tender and flavorful. The Rotini Bianco was rich, creamy, and done just right. Every dish felt intentional and well executed. Don't hesitate to book. If you're trying to impress or celebrate something special, this is the move.

I think this is what people mean when they say something is a hidden gem. Apéro has an incredible…read morewine and vermouth selection, tasty small bites, and great cocktails. Above all, the staff here is fantastic! They're super friendly and also knowledgeable about everything on offer. I love this place but get here early as it gets packed.

Stopped into this wine bar on a rainy Sunday right when they opened with five of my friends. They…read morewere able to seat us immediately in the spacious corner booth. The ambiance is really nice without feeling too "stuffy". Bar was gorgeous and service was friendly and helpful, allowing my boyfriend to sample some wines before going in on some bottles. Prices were what you'd expect for a trendy natural wine bar. The complimentary corn nuts in the antique dish were a cute touch. The charcuterie board with mixed meat and cheese was really small though. Only three pieces of cheese for five people... it made it feel like an awkward fight over who'd get to try some. The gluten free crackers were appreciated though. We ended up ordering more food including the "party tray" which I would describe more as charcuterie nachos. We didn't really know what to expect with this one so we got the canned mussels but it really would've tasted better with the prosciutto instead. It included a whipped cheese, olives, and cornichons piled onto potato chips. Less of a tray and more of a nacho-style dish. If we return next time we're in town, I'd skip the food and focus more on the wine. Beyond that, it was a fun time!

Love this spot for an intimate date night or wine night with girlfriends!! I've been here a few…read moretimes with different crowds and it's always a hit. The cheese board is great and the cocktails are so fun. I really like the Dragon Lady cocktail and my bf likes any of the whiskey ones. The espresso martini is also great. There's a DJ on Friday nights which is fun!! It can get crowded on the weekend so I'd definitely get there early or make a reservation. I've been on the weeknights too and it's pretty quiet them. Overall, I'd definitely recommend if you're looking for a fun spot to grab a drink.

Intimate room with a bar and tables and couches. Interesting list of cocktails and variety of…read morewines. Was a little surprised when I asked the bartenders for wine recommendations; had expected wine bar folks to be a little more knowledgeable. Was also a little disappointed when I asked for a cab on the menu and was offered a different one ... menu wine wasn't available....guess that happens, though. Cheese board was good and ample but not huge size. More crackers than cheese... Generally nice spot, reasonably priced, cool and cozy room ...but still needs a little work.

Cute-enough spot with small plates and cocktails. However, when we visited last night, we waited 15…read moreminutes for our one wine and one cocktail, despite the restaurant being less than a quarter full. We watched our waitress make multiple attempts to pick up my husband's drink from the bar, spill, set it down, pick it back up and spill more, and finally give up and run it to us. As she set down this sticky, wet, under-filled mess, I asked her exactly how much of my husband's $16 cocktail she had just spilled. She said, "Yeah, the bartender over-poured," and walked off. We then watched her do the exact same thing to every mixed drink she ran. Way, way too expensive to be delivering messy, dripping, quarter-empty cocktails. Skip Clara and go to Le Midi, where the service, ambience, and wine list were perfect.

This place knows what's up! It's beautiful, easy to get to, their service is always phenomenal and…read moretheir drinks are delicious. Their snacks are totally worth getting, and the staff are so friendly and knowledgeable. Every time I've asked for a recommendation, they do not disappoint! It's become a regular spot for a night out with the gals. PS - Their live music is so good!

If you like cute and trendy wine bars, you have to go to Outside Voices. This was my first spot on…read moremy Chicago trip visiting my best friend. We met up here. I walked from the Blue Line and felt extremely safe. It's in such a pretty part of town. There are plenty of seating spaces both inside and outside. When you arrive, you find a table you like and then go up to the counter to order. They have QR codes everywhere so you can see the menu online. If you like natural wines this is the place for you. The people who work here are absolutely incredible. I came straight from the airport so had my suitcase and one of the bartenders offered to take my bag to the back which I adored. My friend also took a really long time to get there from work so I just hung out for a while and they didn't make me feel too weird about it. One of them even gave me a generous pour of the wine I got. I also ordered us a meat and cheese board which was simple, but nice. Do know that the prices are a bit high here. If you want to get a full bottle of wine the average price is about $60 for a bottle. The aesthetics of this bar are A+. It is really loud inside. The name says it all, you will be using outside voices. While we adored this place, the music was a bit loud so it was a little hard to catch up. That being said, we made the most of it. It also was the spot that I asked her to be my bridesmaid so it'll forever have a special place in my heart. If you're looking for a cute and trendy place, with fun music blasting, and a great vibe, this is it. I highly recommend Outside Voices.

Went for happy hour on a Friday and it was very cute! The place was a bit dead when we got there…read moreinitially but soon enough pretty much all tables were taken. They have plenty of board games and a disco diner vibe going on. Would recommend for a girls night out. Fav on the menu - dry rosé cider, fries with garlic aioli

We tried pre opera drinks and bites at Good Funk on Wacker and overall it was a blah experience…read more The wine selection was interesting, the food was average, at best. We didn't especially enjoy the atmosphere (sadly we were seated at the bar next to some douche dude bros) or the service. I doubt we will return.

My friend rented this out a few weeks ago to celebrate her 45th. It was the perfect spot for about…read more30 women to mingle, drink cocktails and eat delicious food (compliments of Beaknik). I helped her choose the menu using both Yelp and some help from my bestie chatgpt and came up with the following: 7 Passed Apps: * Mini Truffle Beef Wellington (black truffle aioli) * Short Rib & Brie Slider (Aleppo BBQ, arugula, tomato jam) * Chicken Kebab (harissa-marinated chicken, tahini labneh) * Salmon Taco (avocado, mojo rojo, cilantro) * Mushroom Croquette (black truffle aioli) * Halloumi Skewer (tomato & quince jam, za'atar) * Mini Crab Cake (lemon aioli, herb salad) 1 Stationary Grazing Item: * Mezze Trio (tahini hummus, beet tahini w/ goat cheese, tzatziki, grilled pita & crudité) ---- It ended up being the perfect amount of food- heavy enough to fill us for dinner, but also light enough that we didn't get too full and could stay out late and dance (at the request of the bday gal). They passed the appetizers, but once they passed them around a few times they put them on the bar which became one big grazing station. The drinks were great as well and they even did a signature cocktail in honor of my friend, which was quite strong (hello tequila). The bartender and other staff were super friendly and knew many of us by name after a few hours. It was the perfect cozy spot for this amount of people and I'd love to look into using it again for a similar type of party...or just stopping in for a cocktail!

I really like this place! The vibe is very cozy, especially on a winters day. They have little…read morefireplaces in the back that are nice to sit next to. The wait staff was also incredibly nice. I really enjoyed our charcuterie board, especially the two meats. The cheese we chose was good as well. I look forward to coming back!

At J9, the server was super great and friendly, he recommended us the wines. I like sweet white…read morewine, so I had a Riesling. My friends like dry red wine, they had a Cabernet. Also, one of my friend at the table was pregnant, and the server recommended a zero-proof wine, which I didn't know existed until then, and we all took a sip and we could not tell it was a zero proof wine, it was amazing! The ambiance was lovely, with some Jazz music playing. Would love to come here again!

I had a lovely experience dining solo at Acanto. The lobster capellini was decadent, rich, and…read moreabsolutely delicious... easily the highlight of the meal. Service moved at a slower pace than I'm accustomed to, but it never felt frustrating. In fact, it seemed to fit the atmosphere, and the staff were friendly, welcoming, and accommodating throughout. The location is what truly set this spot apart for me. I chose it simply because it was adjacent to the Chicago Athletic Club, but then the tree-lined views overlooking Millennium Park create a beautiful backdrop that makes lingering over a meal feel relaxed and intentional. A wonderful spot to enjoy a relaxed lunch or dinner while people watching.

Upscale, classic, warm old world style Italian restaurant off Michigan avenue. Indoor ambiance…read moreGIVES off a cozy wine lounge appeal with its crimson wood style and soft lighting. The outdoor space is also plentiful with heated seating that makes the snowfall dinner such a romantic experience. The food was also very good. Here's what we tried. 1. Fusilli: Squid ink fusilli pasta with generous amount of seafood assortment including lobster, scallops, and shrimp. Seasoned to perfection with chili, tomatoes, and garlic. 2. Filet mignon: perfect cut filet cooked to a medium rare with sis of parsnip pree, shallots, and bone marrow butter. Superb 3. Roasted pistachio and Amaretto Coppa: roasted pistachio gelato with amaretto cherries, an crushed amaretto. Love it! Paired it with mint tea. Overall perfect winter night out. Can't wait to come back during the warmer months to enjoy the park scenery along with dinner